Iraq or Arachnophobia? Iraq or Arachnophobia?

• Invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, to worldwide condemnation

• Released in theaters July 18, 1990, to commercial success and modest critical acclaim

• Operation Desert Storm cost the U.S. military an estimated $61 billion

• Ticket prices cost U.S. moviegoers an estimated $51 million

• Evil dictator Saddam Hussein fears secularism and the “poisons” of Western culture

• Bright young doctor Jeff Daniels has a paralyzing fear of spiders

• Hussein has 6 children by two different wives

• Never spawned a sequel

• U.S. resumed air attacks on Irag in December 1998

• DVD version released in June 1999

• UN inspection team head Richard Butler faced Iraqi resistance in his attempt to uncover Saddam’s chemical and biological weapons facilities

• Friendly local exterminator John Goodman forced to use dangerous chemicals to battle the deadly spiders